Gerontology is defined most simply as the study of aging and the elderly. Geriatrics is the medical discipline that focuses on the care of the elderly including treatment and prevention methods.

Geriatricians are predominantly primary care physicians with board certification in internal medicine or family practice. These physicians undergo additional training to receive the Certificate of Added Qualifications in Geriatric Medicine.

Geriatrics is a unique care discipline. The variety of illnesses and conditions that plague older individuals is vast and complicated. As a result, care of the elderly extends past the primary care physician to include a wide range of healthcare professionals. These include, but are not limited to, pharmacists, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists, respiratory therapists, cardiologists, social workers, and dieticians. Proper geriatric care is multidisciplinary and usually coordinated by the primary care physician. Communication between these healthcare professionals is essential to providing appropriate care.

For more facts about geriatric medicine, read “Geriatric Medicine: A Clinical Imperative for an Aging Population,” a report from the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) and the Association of Directors of Geriatric Academic Programs (ADGAP).

To learn more about geriatrics, visit our Geriatrics Resources section, which provides links to external sources.